Documentary Lineup for 2013 NaFF Covers Wide Range of Topics

The Nashville Film Festival (NaFF) has announced its Documentary Film lineup for the 44th annual Festival that runs April 18 – 25 at the Regal Green Hills Stadium 16. The documentaries cover a wide range of topics, including refugees of war, abortion doctors, global warming, a famous drag queen and kids at magic camp.

“These are the cream of the crop,” says Brian Owens, Artistic Director of NaFF. “We ended up having to say ‘No’ to films that would have made a great film festival any other year.”

NaFF has become one of the premier showcases for the best new work of American and international filmmakers. The festival screens films that represent the creative risk filmmakers take to tell powerful and important stories in innovative ways.

The Nashville Film Festival, like other major film festivals such as Sundance and Tribeca, is open to the public. Tickets may be purchased to any of 200 events, including films, panel discussions and parties. NaFF brings in filmmakers, celebrities and industry insiders to mingle with those who enjoy film on the big screen.Visit www.facebook.com/nashfilmfest and www.nashvillefilmfestival.org for more information.

The Documentary Films slate includes:

After Tiller (Directors: Martha Shane, Lana Wilson) – A controversial and poignant documentary about the dangerous lives of doctors providing third-trimester abortions for women, as evidenced by the 2009 killing of Dr. George Tiller.

Fall and Winter (Director: Matt Anderson) – A documentary about survival within a global crisis caused by pollution. This is not a story of despair but rather a rallying effort to find our way back towards harmony with nature.

Far Out Isn’t Far Enough: The Tomi Ungerer Story (Director: Brad Bernstein) – Award-winning storyteller and satirist Tomi Ungerer takes us on a tour through his tumultuous life, revealing the man behind his inspiring and often controversial art.

GMO OMG (Director: Jeremy Siefert) – This exploration of a father’s discovery of genetically engineered food and his determination to keep it out of his kid’s hands may make you think you are not always as safe as we think, even in the organic foods section.

The Guerilla Son (Directors: David Herdies, Zanyar Adami) – A refugee left by his father in the midst of a war gathers the courage to confront his father for his actions. A riveting portrayal of how war affects the family unit.

I Am Divine (Director: Jeffrey Schwarz) – Divine, named “Drag Icon of the Century” by People Magazine, reveals her meteoric rise to stardom in a hilarious and layered exploration of what it takes to become famous.

Iceberg Slim: Portrait of a Pimp (Director: Jorge Hinojosa) – An intriguing and sometimes shocking portrayal of Iceberg Slim, an iconic urban fiction writer, who used his experiences as a ruthless pimp to become an underground sensation among the hip-hop culture.

Lunarcy! (Director: Simon Ennis) – With wry humor and affection, this doc follows a disparate group of dreamers and schemers who have one thing in common: they’ve devoted their lives to the moon.

Magic Camp (Director: Judd Ehrlich) – A touching story of a magic camp for identity-seeking children, who find that it is not sleight-of-hand tricks that make magic happen; it’s what’s inside their hearts.

McCullin (Directors: David Morris, Jacqui Morris) – Photojournalist Don McCullin is a master of using photography to explore the undersides of society; this is the story behind his highly regarded and influential work.

Persistence of Vision (Director: Kevin Schreck) – Focusing on visionary animator Richard Williams (Who Framed Roger Rabbit), Persistence of Vision is the intriguing untold story of the greatest animated film never made.

Plimpton!Starring George Plimpton as Himself (Director: Tom Bean) – A revealing look into the life of legendary sportswriter George Plimpton, illustrating the way passion for sports can provide direction and meaning.

Remote Area Medical (Directors: Jeff Reichert, Farihah Zaman) – A touching portrait of the benefits of free healthcare, documenting three days in April 2012 that Remote Area Medical provided free healthcare to nearly 2000 patients on the infield of Bristol, Tennessee’s NASCAR Speedway.

A River Changes Course (Director: Kalyanee Mam) – Oscar-winning film-maker Kalyanee Mam explores the destruction of Cambodian forest, illustrating the societal crisis between the nature-loving present and the industry-consumed future.

These Birds Walk (Director: Omar Mullick) – A touching story of how friendships can bloom in desperate situations, illustrated through a runaway boy and a reluctant ambulance driver in Karachi meet through a humanitarian mutual acquaintance.

Words of Witness (Director: Mai Iskander) – A coming-of-age documentary about a female journalist in Egypt who defies societal expectations and undergoes the powerful disillusionment that characterizes everyone’s journey from child to adult.

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